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The Comprehensive Guide to Peep Sights

A Guide to Peep Sights

Regardless of what purpose you will be using your bow, you will need to shoot with accuracy. After all, what’s the point of using your bow if you’re not going to hit your targets? One of the best ways to improve your accuracy is with the help of a sight. There are different designs of sights available, with each of them having its own list of advantages and disadvantages. Peep sights are one of the simplest forms of sight, but they are more than adequate if used properly.

  What Are Peep Sights?

  The peep sight is considered as probably the first aiming device ever made. Used for all kinds of shooting devices ranging from bows to assault rifles, the peep sight helps improve shooting accuracy by enhancing the focus of your eyes. Basically, the peep sight works by improving your eye’s ability to see what’s in front. In other words, it helps your eye to accurately judge its target, resulting into more accurate shooting. The science behind peep sights is that looking through a small gap enhances focus, improving aim and accuracy on the process.

Traditionalists love the peep sight, and they have some distinct advantages over other aiming devices. Here are some of the advantages you can enjoy if you choose to use peep sights for your bow.

Easy to use – One of the best things about the peep sight is its simplicity. Using this device is easy. All you have to do is focus your eye on the sight and you’ll have a clearer look at your targets. Installation and maintenance are also simple. You won’t need batteries to use this device, and it is not prone to common issues such as fogging. A more detailed look at how to use your peep sight will be discussed at a later part of this article.

Low price – The peep sight is remarkably inexpensive. With alternative aiming devices such as optics and lasers being quite expensive, it is a relief to know that you can purchase an aiming device at an affordable price. When you consider the accuracy of these devices, the peep sight is the most cost-effective aiming aid you can get for your bows.

Accurate – Of course, an aiming device is useless if it is not accurate. The peep sight is a time-tested device with remarkable accuracy. In fact, the best peep sights are tested to be accurate in distances of up to 200 meters. This may not seem much, but that is a lot of useful range for most purposes. The peep sight is proof that you don’t need to spend a ton of money to get an accurate and useful aiming device.

    How Do They Work?

You must be wondering how the peep sight works. In the earlier part of this article, we discussed the mechanism behind the function of this sight. While that partially answers the question, you can better appreciate how the device work by actually learning how to use it. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use your peep sight.

Find the right-sized peep sight – Size matters when it comes to using peep sights. There are some situations when using a smaller sight is better, and there are also situations when going for a larger sight actually helps you. Basically, going for a sight with a smaller aperture allows for better accuracy and range, as it gives a clearer and more focused view of the target. A small peep sight is better for shooting in broad daylight and situations where obstructions are minimal. In darker environments, a peep sight with a larger aperture is a better choice as it improves low light visibility.

Properly install the sight – You will also need to learn how to properly install your peep sight. This is because improper installation could lead to inaccurate shooting, and can even damage either your peep sight or your bow. Installation instructions are slightly different for different kinds of bows. A later part of this book will focus on how you can install a peep sight in your bow properly.

Learn to take aim – One thing about using peep sights is that you actually have to get used to using it. People who are just getting started in using peep sights tend to shoot their targets either too high or too low in the first few tries. It is recommended that you do some practice shots with your bow during the first few times that you’re using a sight. Eventually, you will find your sweet spot when aiming. However, if your aim is still off, you might have to consider adjusting your peep in the string. The peep should also be anchored securely, as even normal use can move it.

  Best Peep Sights on the Market Today

G5 Outdoors Meta Pro Peep Hunter Sight

G5 Outdoors has patented a convex interior diameter for this sight. This design helps in maximizing field of view even under low light conditions. This design also helps in providing a perfect circle aim when the peep is tilted. The string groove is likewise designed to be convex, allowing the sight to make contact with the string at a smaller surface area. This significantly reduces string wear, prolonging the lifespan of your bow string. In fact, G5 Outdoors is so confident with their design that their product comes with a “No-cut Guarantee”. Available in different sizes and colors, the G5 Outdoors Meta Pro Peep Hunter Sight is one of the best products of its kind right now.

One thing going for this product is it works, plain and simple. Nearly all people who bought this product loved its accuracy, saying that it significantly helped them improve their aim. Many also like its build quality, noting how sturdy it looks. Another thing going for this product is the number of options available. Aside from being available in 3 different aperture sizes, you can also get this product in 6 different colors. If you are looking for a peep sight that works, then this is the product made exactly for you.

Radical Archery Designs Super Deuce 38

This peep sight designed by Radical Archery Designs is made for the serious archer. It is built using anodized aluminum for light weight and excellent durability. It is mounted into the string at a 38 degree angle (hence the name) to provide users with a true round aperture at full draw. It has dual radius slotting that removes sharp points that can damage strings. It also has a safety groove that prevents accidental removal during dry fire. Available in different aperture sizes and colors, you can pick the Super Deuce 38 that fits your needs.

The Radical Archery Designs Super Deuce 38 has garnered strong reviews from those who have used it. People like it because it is easy to install and its rounded design protects the string from damage. It is also very accurate if installed properly, resulting to improved shooting almost right away. Perhaps the only downside to using this peep is that it might take some time before you get used to it. Overall, this peep gets the job done and should be able to provide excellent value for your money.

Precision Peeps Sight

This product by Precision Peeps has a design that is completely different compared to other peep sights available on the market today. It has a unique vertical post found inside the peep. You can use this post as an additional point of reference for aiming. The idea is that instead of lining up 2 different apertures, you can line up the pin at the top of the post, making it easier for you to aim your shots. With this extra point of reference available, you can theoretically improve your shooting accuracy.

The reviews of the Precision Peeps Sight are mostly positive, a testament to the general effectiveness of this unconventional peep sight. The vertical post does its job as advertised. While that alone won’t raise your accuracy, it at least provides an additional point of reference for aiming should you be uncomfortable with traditional aiming. Of course, just like with any unconventional design, it will take some time to get used to it. However, once you get accustomed to its design, it does help with accuracy. Overall, it’s a good-quality product with a different approach.

How to Install a Peep Sight

Learning how to install your peep sight is crucial for maximum accuracy (and therefore maximum enjoyment). The installation process for recurve bows and compound bows are slightly different, but both procedures are not too complicated.

  For Recurve Bows:

First, place your bow on its side. The side of the bow where you will place your sight should be facing upward. The sight should be aligned facing the front of your bow. Line up the holes in your sight with the holes found in the riser of your bow. With the help of a screwdriver or an Allen wrench, mount the sight into the bow. Check if your bow is at the right level using a string level. Place the level on the sight until it is accurately aimed. Once done, fully tighten the screws to secure the aim in its place, making sure that the arrow, when placed in your bow, does not come in contact with your sight. Adjust the telescoping frame of the sight to avoid eye strain while shooting.

  For Compound Bows:

With the help of a bow press, determine the ideal position to place your peep sight. The ideal position is where you can accurately locate the center of the string. Mount the sight in place with the help of a screwdriver or an Allen wrench.  Confirm if the sight is centered by making a practice aim, checking if your eyes are correctly aligned with the sight. Your peep sight should go square with your eye, no matter how many times you try and aim it. Adjust the height of the sight if needed. Once the aim is properly positioned, tie in the sight using the stop knots found at the top and bottom of the peep sight.

  Conclusion

Just to recap everything, the peep sight is a device that helps improve your aim by improving your eye’s focus on its target. While not as advanced as other aiming devices, it is still very useful, thanks to its simple design, affordability, easy usability, and solid accuracy in most shooting conditions. You can choose from different aperture sizes for use in different shooting conditions. Installing a peep sight in a recurve or compound bow is relatively simple. However, if you find it too difficult, you can ask the help of a professional for proper installation.

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The Six Stages of Shooting

Beginner’s Guide to Archery Form

Aside from using a properly tuned bow, another critical element in archery is developing an effective archery form. Your bow and your form should work together perfectly so you can develop your own archery technique much easier.

Proper and effective archery form involves the mastery of the six stages of shooting. I describe these stages as the phases of completing a form — from assuming your stance to following your shot through. Each stage must be completed properly to achieve an effective form.

Here are the six stages of shooting in archery that you need to master in order to perfect your archery form:

Stage 1 – Assume the Shooting Position

In this stage, you assume the position of your preferred archery stance.

There are three stances that you can assume—square stance, closed stance, and open stance. Each stance serves unique purposes that make them more helpful in certain situations. However, for beginners, I recommend starting off with the basic archery stance — the square stance.

Positioning yourself correctly for the stance is important because it’s what will set you up for shooting stability. The correct posture and body alignment can directly affect the way you rotate and move your body when you start to aim and shoot, so practicing this stance is essential to your archery success.

How to get to the square stance:

Position each of your foot on each side of the shooting line. If you are right handed, your left foot must be placed on forward of the shooting line, in front of the right foot. For left handed archers, the right foot must be placed on forward of the shooting line, in front of the left foot.

Place each of your foot in shoulder-width space. This will keep you balanced and stable.

Keep your feet in line with each other or parallel to the shooting line. A correct square stance will create a line that is perpendicular to your target.

Position your body upright and move your chin closer to the shoulder of the arm holding the bow (left shoulder for right handed archers and right shoulder for left handed archers).

Move your hips towards your core to flatten your lumbar or lower back area. At the same time, move your chest towards your core and push your shoulders downward. This creates what I call “muscular focus” where some tension is exerted to focus your muscular energy on your intention to draw, aim and shoot the target.

To perfect this stance, repetitive practice is needed. Repetition will improve your muscle strength, postural endurance, and develop muscle memory. You should dedicate some time practicing the stance while in the archery range. I suggest that you spend at least 3 practice sessions for improving your stance. You can even practice your stance at home without a bow by mentally picturing the shooting line and the target range.

Stage 2 – Nock the Arrow

The second stage of improving your archery form the most basic step in archery is nocking the arrow. Nocking is holding the arrow and securing it in correct position by snapping its nock on the bowstring. It is pretty simple but quite tricky too. I have a hard time with this process sometimes, too. But it’s also in this process that I find out if my bow needs some tuning up.

Nocking may seem like a simple task, but it is a critical step that can affect your shooting accuracy. Since the arrow is nocked onto your bowstring, the process directly influences the direction of the release. If you nock the arrow incorrectly, your shot will surely miss.

How to nock the arrow:

Hold the arrow by the shaft part behind the vanes or fletching, right near the nock, and place it on the arrow rest.

Rotate or turn the shaft until the index vane in the correct position. In a Recurve bow, the index vane should point opposite the riser. In a compound bow, however, the positioning will depend on the type of arrow rest used.

Ensure that the index vane is properly aligned and then snap the nock onto the bowstring, at the nock point or below a nock locator.

When you have positioned the arrow correctly, you are now ready to set. Setting, after nocking the arrow, is the positioning of your hands and fingers on the grip and around the bowstring.

To set, position your bow hand (hand that holds the bow) by placing it around the grip, with the thumb pointing at the target just above the grip.

When you raise the bow, the fingers must be relaxed and the knuckles of your arrow hand or bowstring hand (hand that holds the arrow in position and holds the bowstring back) must be flexed only slightly up to 45 degrees in angle.

Wrap the three fingers of the bowstring hand below the arrow shaft with the string located by the first grooves of these fingers.

The back of the bowstring hand must be relaxed as you prepare for set-up. Setting-up is the alignment of your bow arm’s elbow in relation to the proper positioning of your shoulders as you raise the bow.

Once your bow hand and bowstring hand are in position, extend your bow arm forward by rotating the elbow vertically.

Raise your bow arm slightly above your nose and point it towards the target. Your bow hand must be slightly positioned above your aim. As you do this, position your bowstring arm’s forearm in line with the arrow shaft and make sure the bowstring hand is positioned at your nose’s level.

When you have properly nocked the arrow and set your arms for shooting, you’re ready to execute the next stage.

The key to proper nocking of the arrow is to focus on your hands’ movements and positioning. Identify the angles of improvement and work on them until you have achieved the correct positioning of your arms in relation to the nocked arrow and raised bow.

Stage 3 – Draw and Anchor the Bow

Drawing is a critical step in your archery form that requires correct alignment of your bowstring arm’s movements when drawing the bow. The correct angle and positioning of your bowstring arm will determine the success of your release.

How to draw the bow:

Your drawing hand (bowstring hand) must be positioned at your nose level or slightly above it.

Draw the bowstring back straight towards the side of your face.

Move your drawing arm’s elbow further back and down. This will displace the draw weight onto your back muscles.

Move or rotate your shoulder backwards and downwards, then move your drawing elbow until it is positioned parallel to the arrow shaft. If you can’t position your elbow directly at the level of the arrow shaft, you can position it slightly higher, but never lower than the arrow shaft.

When you have drawn your bow properly, you can now proceed to anchoring.

Anchoring is the securing or locking of your body and bow into consistent position using anchor points. Anchor points can be your thumb, index finger, or the tip of your nose. You can also use a kisser button to secure your bow’s position with your body’s alignment.

For beginners, I suggest using the index finger as an anchor point. Though some beginners find using a kisser button more helpful, it does kind of affect the quality of the bow’s release because it adds more weight on the string.

How to anchor the bow:

When you draw the string towards the side of your face, pull it back until the tip of your index finger reaches the corner of your mouth.

Tuck your thumb into your palm but keep it relaxed. Also, your little finger must be folded towards the palm and keep it relaxed.

Press your hands nearer to the side or your face until the index finger is resting on the corner of your mouth.

Make sure the string is not blocked or interrupted by your nose. It should be placed to the side of the nose.

Stand ground and hold the whole draw weight on your back by transferring it from the arms and shoulder.

Hold your position for the next stage.

To successfully transfer the draw weight to your back, rotate or shift your torso to align it with the bow arm’s position. By aligning them, you are placing them in line with the drawing arm. Rotate your drawing arm’s shoulder towards the back, then hold. Transferring draw weight is an archery technique that needs mastery so you can hold your drawing stance more effectively.

Stage 4 – Aiming

Aiming is a critical step that requires you to focus both on your target and in maintaining your archery form. If you focus either only on the target or your form, you are likely to fail and miss.

How to aim:

While holding, look down on the arrow’s shaft and direct its point to the target.

Aim and pause to reevaluate your stance. If you moved a bit, realign your body and shift your weight properly. Relax your fingers.

Sight up the string to make sure it is lined up with the bow limbs’ center.

Refocus your attention to your target and prepare for the next stage.

Always be careful with how you refocus your attention. Make sure that you hold your position securely after refocusing on your form and avoid sudden movements that can shift your body out of alignment again. Holding your position while trying to get the best aim can be difficult, but constant practice will build endurance that will help you accomplish this stage easier.

Stage 5 – Release the String

The release stage involves expansion, an important step where you expand your chest as you release the string. It’s like taking in a deep breath to open your core or center for the release.

How to release the string:

Man and woman practicing archery

Expand the center of your chest by rolling your pectoral muscles outward while keeping your bow arm and shoulder stationary in position.

As you expand, release the bowstring from your fingers by carefully pushing them out of the way.

Continue expanding after the release but keep your position in place. The pectoral muscles should continue to expand outwards and the back muscles should increase the intensity by rolling the scapula of your shoulder towards the spine.

Expansion during the release is important because it allows the archer to get a better shot by letting the string go cleanly and smoothly.

Stage 6 – Follow Through

Following through is the final stage in the basic archery form. It takes place as you continue to expand after the release. It is like looking back on the target that you were focusing on during your aim and fully committing to hit during the release.

How to follow through:

Relax your drawing hand after the release but keep your position and continue to increase the tension in your back muscles by rolling the shoulder’s scapula towards the spine. This will also make yourdrawing hand or arm roll towards your back.

Move your drawing hand straight back alongside your face. Pause just below your ear or behind your jaw.

Keep holding the bow up in your bow hand after the release as you follow through.

Continue the expansion of your chest and the tension of your back muscles until you see the arrow hit or reach the target.

After the arrow hits the target, you can lower your bow and rest your drawing arm.

Most beginners think that the release is the final step because the follow through step is not clear to them. However, if you skip the follow through, you might end up committing these newbie mistakes:

Dropping or lowering your bow right after release – dropping the bow immediately after release is the common cause of steering the arrow in a different vertical direction. This is because the arrow needs enough time to successfully clear the arrow rest and fly straight to the target.

Moving or swaying your bow to the side to take a look at the arrow’s flight towards the target – moving the bow sideways might also cause the arrow to change direction when it fails to complete full clearance from the arrow rest.

These mistakes that steer the arrow away from the original aim do not only reduce accuracy; they can also be dangerous. The accidental steering of the arrow away from the original target leads to directing them towards accidental targets like objects, animals, or people that are positioned within a distance around the shooting range.

  Concluding Tips

Now that you know the six stages of shooting, all you need to do is keep on practicing. Shooting excellence doesn’t happen overnight, it takes plenty of exercise, dedication, patience, and persistence. Remember, repetitive practice develops your muscles, so maintaining your form gets better in time.

I suggest that you create a practice plan for each of the shooting stages so you can master them one at a time. There is no stage that can be skipped or taken for granted; they are a progressive sequence of the archery form that will help you achieve archery success and mastery.

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The Best Compound Bow 2017

The Best Compound Bow 2017

If you wish to level up your archery skills, you can try using a compound bow. This type of bow uses a levering system that gives the bow a unique let-off capability. Choosing the best compound bow of 2017 will not only promote efficiency, but will also help you develop more of your skills to land those arrows with precision.

Those who are interested in finding the best compound bow for hunting, for instance, always choose based on some important considerations. Using their criteria, bows should be: compact for easy control, fast enough to have the flattest possible trajectory, lightweight, and smooth to shoot. It should also be quiet enough so as not to alarm their prey while hunting.

To help you out in your search, here is a short list of options for the best compound bow 2017:

Leader Accessories Compound Bow Hunting Bow – this is a great option if you are just starting out or if you do not want to spend an arm and a leg. This bow is made by Man Kung from Taiwan. Man Kung has been in business for decades and is trusted in manufacturing parts and add-ons for many US based big brands. The fact that this one is crafted in Taiwan is definitely not a downer.

This best compound bow for hunting is only available for right-handed users. Its draw weight goes up between 50 to 70 pounds. It has an adjustable draw length of 25 inches to 31 inches. This makes it easy to adjust even for beginner hunters. It shoots at a staggering speed of 310 fps.

This bow is of high quality and is made from a modern composite material. It is sturdy and durable enough for serious hunters. The aluminum riser is carefully crafted with lots of cool cut outs that give it a modern look. The pack includes accessories like an arrow rest and a peep sight. These, however, can be bought separately if you wish.

Bow performance is smooth, with bearable noise and vibration when shooting. This bow is solid enough for bow hunting with an axle-to-axle (ATA) length of 35 inches.

  This bow also has an aluminum dual eccentric cam system for added durability. It is not only good for hunting but for bow fishing as well. You simply have to attach a bow fishing reel to the bow’s pre-drilled mounting holes. This hunting bow from Leader Accessories comes in a stylish autumn camo or black finish.

The list of pros for this product still outweighs the cons, making it a worthy option for anyone looking for the best compound bow 2017. To compare:

Pros

Draw weight and length can be adjusted

Provides great precision

Sturdy enough to be used for back-to-back archery sessions and hunting

Can be utilized for bow fishing

Its great pacing makes it a good option for hunting sessions

Its pricing is affordable

Availability of several color combinations

Cons

Limited to right-hand users

Extra accessories should be bought separately

Might be a little heavy for beginner archers

  Overall, the Leader Accessories 50-70 Hunting Compound Bow is a great steal for a price of $250. It is well crafted, shoots very accurately, and can easily keep up with models that cost double the price or even more.

  FBA Service Compound Bow Package – this compound bow is good for hunting and can be used both by beginners and veterans. Its draw weight ranges from 19 to 70 pounds, while its draw length goes from 19 inches to 30 inches. It has an IBO speed of 320 fps and an ATA of 28 inches. The brace height measures 7 inches, covering an 80% let-off.

It is sturdy and durable at a bow weight of 3.31 pounds and an aluminum bow riser built. It has a CNC 7075-T6 bow cam can easily be adjusted in just two minutes, even by kids. Its great performance is assured by the high quality of materials used in its limbs and it bow string, imported from Gordon Composites in the USA and BCY USA respectively.

Since this compound bow comes as a package, you can find the following already included in your purchase: bow, five-pin optical bow sight, brush arrow rest, braided bow sling, rubber stabilizer, bow release, D-loop, peep sight, Allen keys, string wax, bow stand, 6 pieces of arrow quiver, limb dampers, arrow puller, and a carbon mix arrow (18” x 30″). All these accessories amount to a total of $200.00 in value. This is already a great deal for a bow that comes with everything you need.

What is great about this bow is that it gives you flexibility when it comes to draw weight. With a range of 19 pounds to 70 pounds, it is suitable for all games (small, medium or large).  While some would tend to make the wrong assumption of this bow being an off brand bow or a low quality product because of its weight, this bow will prove you wrong. It will surely provide you a top notch compound bow complete with all the accessories.

This compound bow package from FBA Service is light and compact. It offers great value for money with all the additional accessories already provided in the package. Its durability is affected by how well the bow is used and maintained.

Pros

Good for hunting

Suitable for small, medium, or large hunting game

Great all-in-one package deal

Good product for a reasonable price

Cons

Some false perceptions and speculations on the quality of the product and its accessories

Available only for right hand version

  Diamond Archery Infinite Edge Pro – This is crafted by one of the famous bow manufacturers in the world, Bowtech. This bow is specially designed for novice level archers, kids, and females. It has a wide variety of adjustable settings which is important while teaching archery to kids and ladies. It is also good for target shooting sessions.

The usual package of the Diamond Infinite Edge bow package will give you everything you need to use the bow straight out of the box. It has a 3-pin tundra sight and a tube peep sight, making it a breeze to aim. The tundra sight’s fiber optic lines are great for starters.

The 5″ ultra-lite octane stabilizer is a good add-on that does not have vibrations while shooting. This makes the whole draw cycle more steady and accurate. Apart from that, it gives more balance to this bow, further adding to its already comfortable draw cycle.

The package also includes the Hostage XL arrow rest, which has a simple design but is sturdy and has no mechanical parts. This is considered as an adequate arrow rest for starters.

The Dead Lock Lite Octane quiver with 5 arrows capacity is a fine and practical add-on too. It is easy to use and friendly for beginners with its quick-detach system.

A comfort wrist sling and a BCY string loop come in the package as well. The BCY Loop is attached to the part where the nock is on the bowstring. It is used to pull or hold the string with the use of a release aid. With this mechanical release, you will have a quicker release that creates less torque on the string from your fingers.

The bow supports dual cam eccentric systems which are elliptical in shape and are perfectly synchronized for a perfectly smooth, straight flight. The cable is also very smooth and is the perfect fit for beginners and women. The shooting IBO speed of the bow is 310 fps. As the bow is specially designed to be lightweight in nature and comfortable to shoot.

Once released, there is a built-in string stopper which will protect the bowstring from vibration. There is also zero-hand shock which is another highlight of this product. Normally, light vibrations or shock will be felt by archers in their hands after shooting the arrow but this compound bow does not pass the shock or vibration to the users. This is actually one of the reasons why it is preferred by women and children.

The Diamond Archery Infinite Edge is one of the most convenient compounds because of its adjustability. Its draw length can go from 13 inches to 30 inches, while its draw weight can be adjusted from 5 pounds to 70 pounds. Set at 70 pounds draw weight, 30 inches draw length, and 310 fps IBO speed using 350 grain arrows, the Infinite Edge Pro produces 74.7 of Kinetic Energy (KE). This means that it is capable of going for the roughest game with no problems and is suitable for hunting activities.

The axle-to-axle length of the bow is 31 inches, which is appropriate if you are above 5.10 feet in height. At 3.1 pounds in bow weight, it’s considered as a standard weighted bow. While there are bows that are lighter or heavier, 3.1 pounds is considered to be the perfect weight for an archer to shoot their target with better precision and power.

The compound bow could also be used for bow fishing, if you wish. The Infinity setting makes this compound fit for bow fishing as it results to a zero let-off. Therefore, it will maintain most of its peak holding weight for the whole draw-circle. This is important in bow fishing as you need to be able to shoot swiftly.

The bow is available in three different color options, a great plus for those who are looking for more stylish options. Depending on their taste and preference, users can choose from: Mossy Oak Infinite, Black Ops and Pink Blaze.

The product definitely speaks for itself as it is incomparable with others considering the quality and its reasonable price of less than $400.

  Pros

Lightweight and highly adjustable compound bow

Great build quality for the price

Produces bearable vibrations while shooting

A highly balanced bow which provides perfect shots

Adjustable draw weight and length

Best for beginners and seasoned archers and hunters

  Cons

Need to manually install the peep sight

Tundra sight and arrow rest can be improved

  All in all, the Diamond Infinite Edge pro compound bow is one of the most versatile bows in the market. It is user-friendly for all ages, experience levels, and for whoever wants to start taking up archery as a hobby.

  Choosing the Right Bow for You

Looking for the best compound seems to be challenging due to the wide array of models and manufacturers available out there. Regardless of your experience, age, and proficiency level, it is best to try as many bows as possible before you actually buy your own equipment. Getting a feel of the various bows in actual use will help you manage your expectations and be realistic in your choices.

Compound bows are versatile, light, and overall a wonderful piece of equipment for hunting and target practice.

Look for a bow that is simple, fairly priced, and made of quality materials that will surely help you learn the basics of archery. You can just then transition into a more advanced bow when you are already comfortable with shooting or when you are ready to begin competing. Choosing to have the simple bow as your starting equipment can help save a lot of money in the long run.

Starting out with more complicated equipment is not preferable as your needs might change as your skills improve. This is true especially for young learners that are just starting to discover the sport. However, you should ensure that the first compound bow that you buy and use gives you outstanding performance. Yet it should be flexible enough with either a non-specific draw length or an adjustable draw length. This will allow you to make adjustments in your form as well so you can work on improving your game.

Other important considerations that you should include in your criteria are: comfort; ease of handling; controllable and light draw weight, bearable bearable noise and vibrations, and affordable. Your choice of the best compound bow 2017 should be flexible enough to adjust to your form and skill as you grow within the first 6 months to a year of shooting.

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The 5 Best Archery Targets

The top reasons that you need to have the best archery target you can get your hands on is to protect your arrows, make sure the arrows get stopped, and has a long target life.  These sound simple and I’m sure that most targets will do this for a couple of arrows, but let’s say you shoot 10 arrows a day for a year.  That’s 3,650 arrows into one target every year!  Even if you shoot half that or less most targets that seem OK at first glance may not hold up to this level of use, especially if you want to shoot more than 10 arrows a day. Most of my acquaintances from backgrounds in archery and bow hunting agree that most of the time, you get what you pay for with targets. It is far better to buy a more premium target as your first archery target so that you can get used to shooting at the same target continuously, at the same time getting more mileage out of it and ultimately saving money.

Archery targets

First, a few tips on caring for your target.

Sun and weather can make your target wear down much quicker. If you can’t put it somewhere covered, at least try to put a tarp on it.  That being said, a couple of weeks here and there in harsher elements shouldn’t have too much of an impact on your target if it is well made.

Keep your archery targets away from pets or animals, especially dogs!  I learned that one by experience. I am amazed what can be done in one minute by two teething Labrador Retrievers.

Don’t use broadheads when practicing with a target, broadheads are designed to tear and will greatly decrease the life of your target. Be sure to use practice arrowheads if possible.

Now on to the best archery targets

The 5 Best Archery Targets

  The Bone Collector

The two big things with targets are stopping power and how easy it is to pull out your arrows.  This target does both very well.  It’s only made for target points, but don’t let that stop you because this block will hold up for years of use.  This one comes in white and yellow with different shoot able sides and faces.  I found the link for the yellow one.  This target is pretty big and heavy at 19 inches on each side and 32 pounds, you shouldn’t lose it.  Priced around $70-100, this is an excellent target.

Hurricane Archery Bag Target

Shoot the hurricane! This bag target does a great job of stopping arrows and letting you pull them out without much effort.  A bag target normally does better with a stand, but this one still seems to do very well on its own.  The burlap type material will eventually wear out, but it’s going to take a lot of use to get to that point.  The target has a set of deer vitals on the back to double the life of the target.  Priced around $50, you get a great target that should last for years.

Black B 20 Archery Target

This is the target that I use at home.  I love shooting the block.  This is a combination target which means that it can handle field points and broad heads.  You can shoot all 4 sides and the black and white gives you a nice high contrast to focus on.  The only downside is that these types of targets grip the arrow tighter to be able to handle broad heads.  Broadheads can even rip the foam out of the target, but they can do that to any target.  A solid target that will last for a very long time.  Priced around $115 -130, you get a great target for the money.

Field Logic Classic Block Target

A classic foam layered target that stops arrows through friction, this target has great stopping power.  This block is just a bit smaller and lighter than the others so if a heavy target is a problem, then this is the solution.  I originally started out shooting a foam layered target and have always had a good experience.  This one is no different.  If you’re shooting a heavyweight high-speed bow, this one might move a bit.  Priced around $70-200, this target works well for all ages

Rinehart broadhead target

Designed as a broadhead target, this block gives you 18 different spots to shoot at.  This one will grip your arrow very tightly to stop broadheads fast.  I love the angled corners because you need that if you’re going to be shooting from an elevated position.  A lot of people have gotten them with blurry painting so heads up.  This target does exactly what it was designed for, stopping broad heads.  Priced around $110-150 for an arrow stopping machine.

Shooting a good target makes archery more fun and enjoyable.  You’ll get more fun out of your time shooting when you have a target that stops your arrows, lasts a long time, and it’s easy to get your arrows back.

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SAS Siege Compound Bow Review

SAS Siege 55 lb 29” Compound Bow Review

With the reviews on the SAS Siege 55 lb 29” Compound Bow mostly recommending it as a bow suitable for both beginners and expects, this is one particular bow unit deserving serious scrutiny. It carries with it several features that will most likely entice you into buying. Here are the specifics. Specs:

One thing to note about this bow is the level of power you can get from it, having the ability to go between 40 and 55lbs of draw weight is an incredibly useful feature. Check out also the arrow rests and the sight, many users say that these aspects of this bow model suit them very well.

SAS Siege Compound Bow – Specifications:

• The draw length is 29 inches. • The draw weight is from 40 to 55 lbs. • Distance between axles is 41.5 inches. • Let-off level on the bow is 70%. This means you will hold only 16.5 lbs of the maximum 55 lbs when the draw force is at its peak. • Maximum shoot speed is 206 feet per second. • Recommended arrow length is 30 inches. Aluminum and carbon arrows are preferable. • Bow’s body weight is 4 lbs.

SAS Siege Compound Bow – Highlights:

The SAS Siege is said to be a beginner’s bow, but it can’t be placed fixedly on any particular level of archery expertise. Because of the high level of adjustability and flexibility of its parts. Men, women and children can use this bow for any purpose – hunting, target shooting and even general practice.

• It features compressed ABS limbs. The implication for this is that the engineering of the bow ensured that it has balance, has the right weight and the right level of strength. This feature makes it a bow that can last for years. • The bolt is adjustable. Draw weight will be decreased by about 5 lbs when the bolt is loosened. Vice versa, it will increase by the same amount when the bolt is tightened. • The limbs are supported by back pivoting pockets. This is the feature that makes the bow possess accuracy that is far superior to others. • There are cut outs in the riser of this compound bow. The purpose is to make it have a waffle-like appearance. • This bow can take a force of 55 lbs when its string is pulled to its maximum draw. That big force magnitude even if at this point the cams are still not activated. When launched the arrow will have a velocity of 206 feet per second. • This bow is for right-handled people only. • The sight is adjustable. • Replacement/repair of damaged parts is covered by a warranty. In addition, there is a three-year warranty from the manufacturer.

SAS Siege Compound Bow – Pros and Cons:

The SAS Siege is one of the most inexpensive compound bows for beginners available in the market. The manufacturer is a Taiwanese company and the USA distributor goes by the name of Southland Archery Supply (SAS). The latter is the one that offers the warranty for parts, so you know where to go just in case you need replacements or repairs. With the low pricing, which of the parameters have been compromised? Let us find out.

Here are the Pros: • Some parts and systems in this bow are able to be upgraded. For one, it comes with an adjustable 3-pin sight which you can upgrade to something like a 5-pin type. The original sight is adjustable, which means you must carefully tighten it into its hole to achieve a good level of stability. • This bow is available in three different finishes, meaning you can choose a unit that will suit your personal taste. Available finishes are Black, Autumn Camo, and the Black/Silver combination finish. • Its ability to be upgraded is supported its many “waiting” holes. There will be no problems if you want to mount a D-loop, a peep, or a quiver aftermarket. • Finger-shooting is highly possible for this model. You can finger-shoot with almost instinctively even without using a fiber optic or a peep sight. It is one reason why this is a good bow for beginners and archers who already own a recurve and would to switch to using a compound. • This model is quieter compared to more expensive units and has less vibration, an incredible advantage for anyone wishing to use this bow for hunting. If there is a need to further lessen the vibration, you can opt to install a stabilizer and a string silencer. This can help even with minimizing the recoil effect. • The let-off of 70% is pretty a welcome feature for starters. It will allow them to focus on form and aim rather than on trying to stabilize their hold on the string while pulling it. • The poundage is adjustable. The axle distance is a good distance for a compound bow like this unit. The twin cam system also produces a smooth draw-cycle. The material used on this system looks strong and sturdy. • This bow shoots targets accurately. If accuracy needs to be enhanced, there are many upgrades available for the unit. • The price is unbeatable.

Here are the Cons: • Some parts are made of plastic. Check the 3-pin sight and the arrow rest. You might have some issues with the material used for these parts. • It is manufactured outside the US. You might have issues with that as well. • The screw that is to be used to connect the cable guard to the riser is super tiny. It can be easy to lose or misplace this part if you are performing maintenance on this part of the bow. • There is no manual accompanying the unit. Considering that it needs upgrading to enhance many of its properties, this is a serious oversight on the part of the manufacturer. However, SAS has a manual on its site. It requires you to visit the site every time you need to confirm if what you are doing with the bow is alright or not.

SAS Siege Compound Bow – Activities and Usage:

With this bow, you can undertake a lot of activities. Remember, you can buy two or three units of this model so everyone in the family can enjoy shooting together, including your children, have a spare unit to use for practicing.

Suggested activities include the following: • Bow fishing – Since this bow has a lot of pre-drilled holes, there should be no problem attaching a bow fishing reel to it. With a maximum of 206 fps, you will surely kill any fish that you will be able to hit with your reel. Because its weight is just enough for underwater bow fishing, you can go deep diving and catch more fish. • Bow hunting – This is for those who would rather go bow hunting than using a rifle. This bow is more than suitable for anyone wanting to hunt using a bow, the 206 fps that the arrow can reach when launched should be more than enough for even larger game. • Target shooting – This bow is more than suitable for simply enjoying some archery practice, the sights and rests included in the package provide enough comfort and accuracy to hit most targets between a short to medium range, depending on your proficiency. For longer range shots it would be beneficial to purchase some upgrades for the bow.

There are many more activities you can do using this bow. You can join shooting competitions, or throw a party and play a bow and arrow game with your guests.

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Top Selling Recurve Bows 2015

11 Top Selling Recurve Bows Under $200

If you’re an archery enthusiast on a budget then you need to review this list. Anyone who’s looking for a good value recurve bow under $200, then you are in the right place. We have compiled a list of the top selling recurve bows for 2015 featuring their main selling points. You can then make your own decision regarding which is best for you. To assist in the process the list has been divided into 3 sections; recurve bows under $200, under $100, and under $50. Without any further ado, let’s get started.

Recurve Bows Under $200

1. Martin Jaguar Take-Down Bow

If you’re looking to spend as little money as you possibly can, then this bow is one of the best to go with, if not the best. It’s suitable for many different activities, including hunting and target practice. If you have a sensitive pair of hands, you’ll be delighted to know that this particular model has a very comfortable grip.

This bow is also pretty durable, since it’s made out of aluminum. Since it consists of 3 parts, it means that you will have no trouble carrying it around no matter where you go, and it also means that you can store it pretty much anywhere. If you’re a beginner and are unsure as to whether you’d want to continue with this hobby, this is a huge plus, because you can just store it under the bed or something after you’re done shooting.

To recap:

Easy to store and carry around

Beginner-friendly

Comfortable grip

Good price-to-features ratio

Multiple draw weights

  2. PSE Razorback

The first thing you’re bound to notice on this bow is how beautiful it is to look at. It almost looks like a piece of jewelry. That being said, its looks are not the end of what it has going for it. To start off, it’s good to know it comes either in 20, 25, or 30 lbs. These draw weight options are really important, because women will typically want to go with a lower number than men.

This model also has an ambidextrous design, so both right-handed and left-handed users will be able to enjoy it. This is a take-down bow, which means that carrying it around or storing it is incredibly simple.

It’s made of laminated wood, which is pretty sturdy. The amazing thing about this bow is that it hits pretty hard, which is almost unusual for its draw weight, so this is a perfect choice for those who are looking for maximum power while still retaining the comfort level when using it.

The only drawback is that this bow is rather large, and might not be that great for those who have a shorter stature. However, a lot of archers have plenty of success shooting bows that are much taller than they are, so you really should try it out first.

To recap:

Ambidextrous design

Affordable

Different draw weights

Elegant-looking

Laminated wood construction

Hits hard

  3. Samick Sage Takedown Bow

This is another budget-friendly bow, and it has different draw weights, with 30 pounds being the minimum, and 55 pounds the maximum. Upon taking a first glance at it, you immediately get the feeling that this bow was taken straight out of Lord of the Rings or something similar, because how traditionally-wooden looking it is, which is a great feature for purists.

The bow is very versatile, and if you’d like to attach something extra to it, you will be able to do it without any problems. But if you’re just looking for something beginner-friendly that works from the get go, this bow pretty much delivers it.

Being constructed from Maple and Olive Dymondwood, this bow is as sturdy as it gets while still retaining its natural beauty. The limbs tend to be on the longer side of the scale, but since this bow is take-down, this really isn’t a problem, since you’ll be able to carry it around and store it wherever you want to.

It’s suitable for hunting too!

To recap:

Customizable

Suitable for both beginners and experts

Very budget-friendly

Traditional-looking

Sturdy

Limbs will remain in perfect shape even after 2 years

4. SAS Maverick One Piece Bow

Another fascinating piece of equipment for archers who prefer the traditional wooden look of their bows. Having the option of having either 40 pound or 50 pound draw weight, this bow was designed for those who are very serious about their hunting. However, these draw weights might make the bow a little less suitable for beginners.

It might be a little more difficult to carry around this bow, because it has a one-piece construction. If you’re unsure what draw weight you’re looking at when you see one in person, just inspect it closely. You should see a huge number being engraved into the wood that will tell you the exact draw weight.

This bow is perfect for any string, and you can even customize it if that’s what you’re looking for. In any case, this thing can pack some serious punch.

To recap:

Traditional wooden design

Suitable for serious hunters

Accepts any string or accessory

Packs quite a punch

One-piece construction

  5. Ragim Wildcat 62″ Wood Take-Down

This bow is basically a perfect starting point for beginner archers, sort of like a starter kit, because you also receive a quiver, an instruction book, and 4 arrows with your purchase. As a matter of fact, it’s a great choice for kids who are at least 8 years old. Available both as a left-handed or right-handed version, so no-one is left out of the equation.

You also get to choose between draw weights ranging from 12 to 40 pounds, which truly allows everyone to find a perfect bow for themselves. And when you get stronger, you can simply replace the limbs which should up the challenge by quite a bit.

The downside of this bow is that it’s not really made for serious hunters, only for outdoor target practice, which is still fine (depending on your needs of course). It’s also a lot lighter than several other bows, which makes the user experience that much more enjoyable.

To recap:

For outdoor target practice only

Great selection of models

Lightweight

Upgradable

Affordable

  6. Bear Archery Kodiak Cub Bow

If you’re looking for a traditional bow for young beginners, this is a great choice. It’s still popular in 2015, even though it was already introduced in the 60’s. Nearly every bow expert has learned and refined his craft by starting out with this model, so it definitely has a rich history.

This bow is a pleasure to use, and a great bow for learning. As far as its construction goes, it’s worth noting that its hand-finished and satin-coated. The bow string is already included, so it’s pretty much ready to go once you purchase it.

To recap:

Grab and go design

Hand-finished

Rich history

Great bow for learning

  Recurve Bows Under $100

1. PSE 10 Snake Recurve Bow

This is the perfect bow for younger archers, since its draw weight totals at merely 22 pounds. It’s also very budget friendly. This particular model has ambidextrous design, which means it’s suitable both for left-handed and right-handed people.

Upon picking it up and holding in your hands, it gives a very sturdy and robust feel. Because of its draw weight, however, this is not suitable for those who are serious about hunting. But that’s okay, since this model was designed for younger people who are just seeking to get their first piece of equipment before getting more serious with their hobby.

To recap:

Beginner-friendly

Suitable for younger people

Affordable

Ambidextrous design

  2. SAS Spirit 62″

This bow is ideal for hunters and also suitable for those who just want to have some fun outdoors. It’s made out of fiberglass and maple, which should be sturdy enough.

Because it has different draw weights (between 26 and 36 pounds to be exact), it’s suitable for both children and adults. It’s easy to put it together and apart, which shouldn’t take more than a few moments. The bow tends to be very beginner friendly, and is suitable even when you get past the beginner stage and want some extra challenge.

The handle is beautifully sculpted and feels great when holding.

To recap:

Suitable for hunters as well as hobbyists

Made out of fiberglass and maple

Durable

Extra-affordable

Beginner-friendly

  Recurve Bows Under $50

1. Martin XR Recurve Bow

This is one of the most budget-friendly options for young beginners. It might not be as powerful as its competitors, but it’s very non-demanding to use, which makes it a great entry-level bow. And if their hobby ever becomes something more serious, they will be able to get a new one in time. But starting with a more expensive bow is never a good idea, because they tend to require more strength to handle, which is very unpleasant for those who don’t have as much arm-strength.

Anyway, this bow has ambidextrous design, so your kids will love it, no matter which hand is their primary one. The experts might criticize it, but for its price and its target demographic (kids), this is still a great buy. The 10 to 20 pound draw is just not going to be a hurdle, not even for the youngest kids.

It’s worth noting that you receive some extras with your purchase, which includes setup tools, a storage solution, and more, which makes this a perfect starting kit for young archers. And when your kids grow up and have kids of their own, they can use the same model to teach them the fine art that is archery.

To recap:

Budget-friendly

Very low draw weight

Suitable for kids

Smaller size

Ambidextrous design

  2. Bear Archery Titan Bow

This is probably the cheapest bow listed here, since you can get it around $40. Because of the price, you really can’t expect this to be professional-grade hunting equipment, but then again, it’s not a toy either. If you’d like, you can pay a tiny bit more to also receive an arm guard, some arrows, a target, and some other goodies, which is the perfect starter kit for kids over 12 years of age.

It has ambidextrous design, and you can choose among several draw weights, from 20 to 29 pounds. This bow is available in different sizes, so you can get one that goes along with the size of your kid perfectly.

It’s also very lightweight, which enables the user to focus more on technique rather than fighting with the bow all the time. In any case, if you’re a novice who’s just starting out, or you want to buy your kids a great entry-level bow for the best bang for your bucks, this is probably the bow to go with.

To recap:

Great starter kit

Among the cheapest bows out there

Amazing for the money spent

Different draw weights

Ambidextrous design

  3. Bear Archery Bullseye X Bow, 62″

Another modern-looking starting piece of equipment for the aspiring archer, but this one comes with a beautiful wooden handle. Its multi-laminate limbs are quite capable of withstanding all sorts of abuse and pressure and won’t break as easily.

This bow is a take-down bow, which means you will be able to carry it around no matter where you go, then store it just about anywhere. Assembling and disassembling is done in seconds, and should not be that big of a problem.

To recap:

Affordable

Great for beginners

Modern design

Take-down

Conclusion

Hopefully, you now have a better idea what the top selling and best recurve bows under $200 are. By carefully going through the list, make a note about your favorite picks, then carefully analyze them some more in order to pick the best one available for your particular needs.

For example, some of these models are made mostly for target practice in mind, while some will be more suitable for the most serious among hunters. Still, everyone should find something for themselves just from this list of top-selling bows.

So what are your favorites?

photo credit

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JOAD – Junior Olympic Archery Development

The JOAD Program

JOAD, Junior Olympic Archery Development is an archery development program that operates across America. This course is designed to teach children and teenagers the things that they need to know to progress from beginner level archery to intermediate and advanced levels. In addition to teaching youth about archery and proper techniques, the program also focuses on promoting life skills and self-confidence. Operated in USA Archery clubs across the nation, it is a simple matter to find your closest club to sign yourself or your children up for the program. To locate your nearest archery club, check out our listing of of Archery Clubs and Ranges here.

Most of the clubs have rental archery equipment available for hire for those that do not already possess their own equipment. For those interested in starting a club in their area, it is possible to establish your own club, to do so, contact a JOAD State Coordinator and talk to them about opening your own branch.

To reward achievements within the program, JOAD offers special “star pins” to recognize the accomplishments of those participating in their program. These star pins are treated as a way of observing the competency of the archers in the program based on their performance in the achievement program. The star pins all come in different colors and are decorated with a number of starts representative of the achievement level of the respective archer. The highest achievement attainable in this fashion is the 6-star pin, awarded to those who manage to shoot 6 10’s in a row.

JOAD supports archers who make use of both recurve and compound bows and offer a safe place for prospective archers to practice and improve in both of these styles of archery. Participants of the program are trained to participate in both local and national competitions. Catering for those between the ages of eight and twenty, the program is suitable for anyone between these ages and wishes to improve their archery, whether for recreational or competitive reasons.

  Photo by Eric Goranson

  Many people who have taken part in the program previously have reported that in addition to improving their archery, JOAD allowed them to forge new friendships and team-building skills that they previously did not have. The beauty of this program is that it puts a group of like-minded and similar aged youth together and provides them with an activity that offers instant recognition of improvement and can encourage a healthy competitiveness between those in the program. Such an atmosphere is perfect for bonding and finding people with similar interests. For those who are too old to participate in JOAD or for family members who wish to partake in archery as a family, Archery USA also offers similar programs for adults.

To sign up to the program, a membership fee of $90 is required or a fee of $65 to those who previously participated in USA Archery’s Explore Archery program.

Equipment

JOAD programs are open to both recurve and compound bows and most clubs offer rental equipment so you can try both styles before you invest in the equipment that suits you best. If you are ready to take the next step and use your own equipment our reviews in both compound bows and recurve bows can help you find the bow that will cater to your needs.

For basic compound bow reviews, click here.

If recurve bows are more suitable for you click here.

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Essential Accessories For Bow Hunting

  Essential  Accessories For Bow Hunting

  You’ve got the talent, you can hit the bulls-eye regularly from your preferred distance. You’ve got the desire and have found your ideal hunting area and have identified your desired prey. To assist in locating your prey, you may choose to use trail cameras or other optical accessories. To learn more about these read my review here.

However you can’t really succeed at bow hunting without the right types of equipment. The key to hunting is not only skill and technique, but ensuring that your equipment is appropriate for the type of hunting you’re doing. Do you need a blind/hide or tree stand or are you going to try the stealth approach to your prey? These are some of the questions that you need to answer before you head out for your hunt. Think outside the box and be try to think like an animal. What would you do in order to hide from a hunter? What places may seem secure and undisturbed by hunters? To these questions and more you’ve found the answers in the right place.

  Camouflage Clothing

Ready to hunt like you’ve never hunted before? Pretend you’re a tree? A bush? See your success rate improve dramatically.

The most important thing with regard to bow hunting is the ability to remain undetected by your prey. Whatever camouflage clothing your get it needs to blend in with the environment that your are hunting in. The main thing is to break up the human shape and not to alert your prey to your location, whether by movement, sound, smell or sight. Therefore your need to have a plan to cover all these areas.

For camouflage clothing suited for a woodland environment consider the following. Look no further than the Mossy Oak Break-Up Infinity pattern or the Realtree Xtra pattern, these are available for a variety of manufacturers.

Scent-Lok Men’s Head Hunter Jacket, Realtree Xtra

Scent-Lok Men’s Commando Crossbow Jacket, Mossy Oak Infinity

If you are hunting out in the open then maybe a ghillie suit will be a better solution. Turn from human into ground cover within seconds, and they come in a variety of color ranges from snow to woodland. It’s the ultimate in 3D camouflage concealment.

Ghillie Suit Woodland Camo

Animal Callers

Why wait for the animals when you can get the animals to come to you!

Walsoon CP550 Outdoor Wireless 10W Speaker Turkey Decoy Bird Caller The Walsoon CP550 Outdoor Wireless 10W Speaker Turkey Decoy Bird Caller is perfect during thanksgiving and delivering a special fresh turkey to the dinner table. Not only does it take care of turkey’s, but has more than 400 sounds of different animals and birds that will make the job so much easier. Wireless remote control, both in synchronization, react sensitively, work up to more than 250 Yards.

But there is a simpler choice for those who are less experienced and aren’t ready to fork out a lot of money.

    Summit Zillions Deluxe Animal Caller The Summit Zillions Deluxe Animal Caller is just one simple breath to create nature sounds and bring those animals coming. There are only 10 sounds to choose from, but it’s a way of easing into the world of hunting. On the plus side? It looks like a Viking horn. So Game of Thrones fans, get excited.

  Scents and Baits

Another course of action to take is to try and bring the animals to you,  by the use of scents and baits. These will have the benefit of luring your prey to a certain spot. If the area looks to be animal-friendly or you have identified animals in the area, leave bits of food and find somewhere to hide and wait. Depending on your intended prey, ensure that you leave the right type of bait. It is however worth noting that leaving the right type of bait will ensure that you hunt only the specific animal you intended to. Some of the more popular varieties are:

Wildgame Innovations Acorn Rage Infuzed Deer Attractant

  Evolved Habitats Deer Cane Mix, 6.5 lb

  Or you could try a scent as you attractant

  Conquest Scents EverCalm Deer Herd Scent Stick

  For those that want to try some simple attractants from your home pantry, you could try peanut butter or vanilla extract

  Tree Stands or Blinds

As we said at the beginning of this article, your success with hunting depends largely on your ability to remain undetected by your prey. Therefore a means to hide your presence is essential. You may like to look at the following blinds and tree stands as a means to achieve your objective.

Big Game Treestands Deluxe Universal Blind The advantage of this tree stand is that it can be used as blind at ground level if required.

  Big Game Treestands The Charger Blind This blind for the size of it only weighs a tiny 11-lbs. It is also quick and easy to set up.

  Summit Treestands Crush Series Peak Hang-On Stand Whilst there are cheaper tree stands out there, this one comes with a seat installed which you will appreciate if your are waiting up a tree for an extended period of time.

  With all stands and blinds, it is worthwhile remembering how long you may lay in wait for your prey. Seriously think about a suitable seat to allow you to remain vigilant and comfortable. Remember your movement and sounds will also alert your prey even if you a secreted in your blind.

Conclusion

If you’re in a location that is renowned for its hunting ground, find a particular spot and lay low till you begin to hear any sort of rustling. Use your animal caller to seek out and bring it closer to you, but remember to lay low and hold your position. You may try this on a tree, rock, bushes, or near a cave site. The waiting game is always the hardest, and at the end of the day, you may leave with nothing. So be patient and keep trying. As they say, patience pays and all you need for a successful hunt is patience, apart from your bow and arrow.

When hunting in any setting, it’s a requirement to stay quiet, watch where you step, and ensure that there are no humans within the of your intended hunt. For example, as you come close to a deer, take deep breaths and remember to have your equipment ready. Aim as if you’re about to win gold in the Olympics. Take a deep breath and pull, steady yourself, and release the arrow at your target. Always remember to take that deep breath and release when shooting. It not only helps you stay calm, but the aiming process means you’ll be steady and not shaking or feeling the pressure to shoot.

Good luck

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National Archery In The Schools Program

National Archery in the Schools Program

Introduction

The National Archery in the Schools Program, also commonly referred to as NASP, was created in order to educate children about the basics of target shooting. This program began when the Department of Education started searching for ways to enhance the attention, attendance, behavior and focus of their students. Through teaming up with the Kentucky Departments of Fish and Wildlife Resources, the NASP was created as a way to enhance the school lives of participating children. The NASP program was launched in early March, 2002, within a year of its launch, the program had been implemented across over 120 schools and catered to year levels between grades 4 and 12.

What is NASP? And What Is Their Mission?

The NASP is dedicated to teaching a generation of children the benefits of outdoors activities, the program initially considered several other sports like; fishing, hunting, hiking and catching animals as a way to engage children before they settled on the idea of teaching children the basics of archery. As the program developed and became more than a physical education program, the creators of the program came up with a mission statement, “Promote the teaching of target archery as a part of the in-school curriculum to improve educational performance of students and encourage their participation in the shooting sports.” Since its development, the program has grown steadily and today, it has interest in over 12 000 schools across 5 different countries and teaches the basics of archery to over a million students every year.

School Application

There are three branches to the design of the NASP, these three components being; the archery curriculum, teacher training and universal fit. The archery curriculum features units of study that were written and revised by educational, conservational and target archery experts to meet the educational standards of a school based program. These units of study were created to be included in a participating school’s physical education program but in some cases, schools have included the program in their history, language or art programs.

The NASP instructor training program was developed so that teachers in participating schools would be able to carry out the requirements of the program and supervise the students to keep all participants of the program safe including; students, instructors and bystanders/spectators. To date, the program has certified over 22 000 people to instruct these courses and this number is steadily increasing.

The universal fit aspect of the program means that the program is designed to cater to every student that participates, not just the ones who are good at archery, within the program, learning the process of shooting is more important than the scores that are gained during this process.

Equipment

The NASP has authorized the usage of only a single bow within its program, the official NASP Original Genesis Bow. This bow has an adjustable draw weight of 10-20lbs but at 20lbs draw, harnesses the same kinetic energy as an average 35lbs recurve bow. The NASP Original Genesis Bow also has zero let off, meaning that the bow has the same draw weight even at full draw. Some hunting bows have up to 80% (or higher in some cases) let-off meaning that if the draw weight of the bow was 60lbs, at full draw, the bow would let off most of that weight and reduce it to 12lbs to hold the string at full draw. The advantage of having a bow with let off is that it gives the shooter the opportunity to relax their muscles prior to taking their shot. The reason for the NASP Original Genesis Bow not making use of this feature is because it slows the rate of muscle training. The NASP Original Genesis Bow is available in both left and right handed models and features aluminum components and composite limbs, meaning that the bow is both lightweight and durable.

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The NASP program has also authorized the use of only a single type of arrow within the program, the NASP Easton Full Length Aluminum Arrows. These arrows are 30 inches in length, feature 7075 aerospace alloy (the same grade of aluminum used in the creation of aircraft and other aeronautical equipment) a nickel plated target point. These arrows are very lightweight and can withstand a large amount of punishment, due to the fact that these are aluminum arrows they can also be bent back into shape if they are shot into a harder surface and warp under the impact pressure. The nocks and vanes of the arrows can be easily replaced if they undergo strenuous hardship and replacement parts are readily available.

To protect you bow and other equipment you should consider purchasing a bow case. Plano have a molded case designed to fit the Genesis Bow and your archery equipment. Plano Genesis Edition Ultra Compact Bow Case.

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Getting Started In Olympic Archery

Introduction

Archery is the skill or practice of using bows to propel arrows. The word archery comes from a Latin word arcus. Historically, archery was used for combat and hunting. Today it is mainly a recreational activity and a competitive sport. The pinnacle of competitive archery is represented by Olympic archery. Someone who is an expert or fond of archery is usually known as a Toxophilite.

  Getting Started

Archery clubs are reasonably prevalent and most of them welcome new archers with open hands. Archery is a great sport even for families and you can take everyone in your family from your grandma to your 6 year old. It is also an amazing sport for those with disabilities (they usually compete against other able bodied competitors in tournaments). A club membership usually costs around $50 annually depending on the location and size of the club. You can also participate in archery throughout the year as most clubs usually move indoors during winter. The indoor sessions usually run from October to around March, when you can easily shoot in sports halls, church halls and so on.

If you interested in finding an archery club you can start with our extensive listing of archery clubs, click here. You can also try the International Field Archery Association or USA Archery.

Most clubs require beginners to have some little tuition before allowing you to shoot the arrows on your own. Beginners normally start with targets that are about 10-15 yard away and then the distance will be increased gradually as you improve your skills. You can become proficient in archery after about six to eight weeks of training.

  Qualification To Olympics

All qualification spots in archery are usually allocated to National committees rather than the individual athletes. There are four main ways for National Olympic Committees to earn spots in Olympic archery. No national committee is allowed to field more than 3 archers of either gender. The host nation is usually guaranteed 3 spots for each gender. The most recent World Target Competition top 8 teams receive 3 spots each and the top 19 archers after the team qualifiers also get spots to represent their countries. Then 15 of the 18 remaining slots are divided among the 5 main Olympic continents for continental spots. The remaining 3 slots are normally determined by the Tripartite Commission Invitation.

Each National Olympic Committee that gets 3 spots for individual archers like the host nation and the top 8 ranked teams and any other country that takes 3 out of the remaining 37 spots can compete as a united team in the team competition category. The minimum age required for any Olympic archer is at least 16 years.

Competition at Modern Olympic archery mainly consists of 4 main events, men’s team, women’s team, women’s individual team and men’s individual team. In all the events the distance between the target and the archer is usually 70 meters. Individual tournaments normally consists of 64 archers. The competition starts with ranking. Each athlete shoots around 72 arrows (in 6 groups, or ends of 12 arrows).After that, the archers are then ranked by their score to establish their score for the elimination bracket. Then the final rankings are determined by the score each archer got in the round that they were defeated, with every archer that was defeated in the first round ranked through 33rd to 64th.The round usually pits the 1st ranked athlete against the 64th,the 63rd against the 2nd and so on. The athlete with highest score after 18 arrows proceeds to the next round while the loser is eliminated from the completion.

After 3 such rounds, there will only be 8 archers left in the competition. The remaining rounds are the quarters, semis and medal matches, which are referred to as the main finals. They normally consist of every archer shooting around 12 arrows in ends of 3 arrows. Here the two competing archers alternate by arrow instead of shooting simultaneously like in the initial 3 rounds. The losers in the quarterfinals are eliminated from the competition while loses in the semis fight it off to determine the fourth place and the bronze medalist. The winner between the two undefeated archers takes the gold medal while the loser gets the silver medal.

  Archery Equipment

When you are first starting out, archery clubs will usually provide trainees with the required equipment so at first you will not need any but over time you will need to buy your own equipment. Wear stable shoes like golf shoes or good runners. Do not wear any type of heels that could unbalance or inconvenience you.

Other equipment includes:

Archery armguard  – A guard that protects the arm from the bowstring

Bohning Slip On Armguard This armguard is easy to slip on without the need for any straps or clips to fit. It is comfortable to wear and comes available in 3 sizes so you are able to ensure a good fit. It is great for target and 3D shooting.

    Arrows –

Arrows have a diameter of up to 9.3mm, but for less wind drift and faster flight most are usually as small as 5.5mm. Each archer usually has their arrows marked with distinctive colors to distinguish owners.

  Bow -Most competition bows have a draw weight of about 50 pounds for men and around 40 pounds for women. In Olympic competition the only bows permitted are recurve bows. The recurve bow has 4 main parts; 2 limbs, the riser and the string, recurve bows are sometimes referred to as takedown bows as they can be taken apart for easy storage. Examples of commonly used recurve bows include: Samick Sage Takedown Recurve Bow, Bear Grizzly Recurve Bow and the PSE Mustang Recurve Bow.

Compound bows may be used in National competitions, however they are not permitted in Olympic competition. The compound bow is a bit different from the recurve bow and it cannot be taken apart for storage. Examples include: Genesis Bow, Infinite Edge Bow, PSE Stinger and the Bear Archery Youth Bow.

  Bowstring

-This is the string of the bow. Most of the bowstrings are usually made of high quality polythene fibers.

Chest-guard-It is either leather or plastic used to keep out the archer’s clothing from the way and for protecting against other body injuries.

Shooting glove or Finger tab-This is a flat piece of leather usually worn to protect the fingers when an archer releases the arrow.

Quiver-This is a container used for holding the arrows and is normally worn around the waist.

Sight-This is a device that is usually placed on the bow to aid the athlete aim correctly, it is also called bows light

Stabilizer-This is a small weight usually mounted on top of the bow to stabilize it after or during a shot.

For more information on getting started in archery, click here.

For information on junior compound bows, click here to read my review of the best beginners compound bows

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Instinctive Archery Basics And Technique

Introduction to Instinctive Archery

Originally bows and arrows were created and fashioned out of natural wood. Shooting an arrow was done by simply drawing back the bow with the string, taking a general aim, then letting it loose. There was no additional equipment, only instincts and an inner sense guiding the person. Today, this is known as instinctive archery. In this article the basics of instinctive archery will be explained – the equipment required, and the best natural stance to assume when shooting instinctively to improve your aim.

Some people are born with natural gifts and talents in sports such as archery and many others. This becomes evident when they first pick up a bow, an arrow, then shoot with remarkable precision on their first attempt. Others who are less gifted will need to traverse the well-worn road of practice to achieve excellence.

The instinctive archery aspect is much like how we throw a baseball at the exact spot where we want it, or a stone to hit a target- it is completely natural, and follows the bodies’ internal compass, plus the essential mind and muscle coordination to make it happen. Instinctive archery, or “snap-shooting”, was adapted for more practical reasons other than sport. It was used mainly for hunting food and game, where little time and concentration is given, before the target runs away. Emphasis in instinctive archery is placed more on the archer’s skill rather than the use of sights or a prolonged aim and is completed more by feel.

As with any new skill, the most important part of mastering it, is the need to practice, which trains the brain and the muscles involved and thereby increases the chance of an precise and accurate shot. With sufficient practice this new way of shooting will become second nature or natural for you. In order to find success with this new shooting style, you must prepare, so for more information read on below.

A Guide To Instinctive Archery Basics

First off you require a solid starting point for instinctive archery and this starts with a properly placed arrow rest and nocking point to serve as a solid guide. It can be adjusted as you become more comfortable with style of shooting. You will find different nock points based on the type of bow you may be using, such as a longbow or a recurve bow. Use the same equipment each time when learning, doing this will eliminate any inconsistencies with your equipment whilst practicing.

Next you require a consistent form to create a solid base on which to build. The goal in this exercise is to recreate the correct pose and shooting motion each time, much like basketball players perfecting their shot motion or golfers, their swing.

The key to creating this form is your stance, draw and anchor, and finally the release. We need to start from the correct position, a nice smooth draw remaining balanced and then holding at your anchor point. I use my fingers just touching the corner of my mouth as my reference, however, there are a lot of variations from this common point. What is essential is that you come to exactly the same point each time. By maintaining the same stance and utilizing the same draw each time induces consistency. Consistency is particularly important when learning any new skill such as this, do the basics well and everything else looks after itself.

Starting with a stance that puts your feet about shoulder width apart, ideally with your toes pointing at 90 degrees to your target and the balls of your feet aligned with the aiming point. With your weight slightly more onto your front foot so your weight is going in the direction of your shot. The bow is normally gripped by the non-dominant hand and allows the pointer finger to do its job of pointing directly to the target when you raise the bow. Keep in mind that different bow types have features that make it easier to grip, and you might be unaccustomed to this kind of grip before, but with practice it becomes second nature. The most natural and intuitive way to become better at instinctive archery is to always keep your wrist, arm and pointer finger in alignment- in this manner, you should experience less problems and become more accurate more quickly.

Now nock an arrow just underneath your nocking point. It should rest on the same side as the back of your hand that is gripping the bow. ‘Gripping the bow’ is a bit of a misnomer, in so much as the bow isn’t actually gripped but rests (or pulled back) against the palm of your bow hand as the arrow is drawn. Consider slightly tilting your bow to where the arrow cannot fall off, and remains in position even when you shift. Hold the string with your dominant hand with a traditional grip. Generally, the pointer, middle and the ring fingers are utilized in holding the string. The bow’s string should be handled with the fingertips’ meaty pads between the tip of the finger and the finger’s first joint. If you find that it is too hard to draw the bow in this manner, choose a lighter bow until you can draw without too much trouble. I recommend that you also protect your fingers over a long practice session with a finger tab or shooting gloves. For my review of the best archery gloves click here. Your string hand should maintain a straight line just behind the arrow, from the fingertips to the wrist and extending to the elbow. The arm should look like a natural extension of the arrow. The bow itself is drawn not one-sided, but use a combination of pulling with the dominant arm that grips the string and pushing with arm that holds the bow.

A fully drawn bow needs an anchor point to get to the next step. Finding and establishing a good anchor point is also one of the most important technique in learning instinctive archery because it allows you to consistently maintain a draw length where you are able to comfortably position the arrow aiming towards the target. The most recommended anchor point is where the string is drawn back to where the middle finger ends and touches the corner of the mouth. This position is the most common and most reliable anchor point, so use it well and often.

Release the arrow by relaxing the back of the hand, optimally about the time the finger comes in contact with the anchor point. An excellent release would be where the draw hand is exactly where it was before and after the shot was made.

The real skill in following the instinctive archery path is the ability to focus on the target and nothing else. Instinctive archery is all about skill and focusing intently on the target and forgetting about everything else in the moment. To achieve this start focusing on the target intently even before the bow is drawn.Once you have your focus solely on the target, then and only then should you commence the draw.

It is essential that the bow is not held at full draw for long – fight the urge to carefully aim and just use your gut instincts.

Keep the focus and fine-tune your form to whichever works for you in the long run.

I recommend starting over a short distance say up to 7 yards. It serves no purpose trying to much your first shots instinctively over 30 yards and miss the target every time. Start from a short distance initially and then work back as your skill improves. This is a much more rewarding way of commencing this skill and ensures that you are more likely to continue as your skill improves.

To learn how to increase your accuracy click here.

Remember that instinctive archery is skill-based and you will benefit tremendously with time and practice. Don’t fret too much if the starting shots were not to good – focus and it will get better.

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The Best Beginners Compound Bow Review

Beginners Compound Bow Review

There is no better feeling as an archer than getting your son or daughter their first ‘real’ bow, this feeling even applies if you are not an archer yourself. Every parent looking for a bow has similar questions. How do I know I am getting value for money? What is the best beginners compound bow for a young archer? And other similar questions, read my review of the most popular compound bows for juniors to answer these questions and more.

Archery is one of the most rapidly expanding sports at present and is also one of the safest sports for your children to learn. Choosing your child’s first bow is an important component to their archery experience, and can determine how enjoyable their initial exposure to be. The bows that I have detailed here are basically suitable for ages 8 through to the mid-teens and are adjustable in draw length and weight to grow with your child.

I have tried to locate the best available beginners compound bow packages out there.  There are a lot of great option out there and I almost feel like I could just close my eyes and pick and I’d do alright, but I don’t want just a “good” bow.  I want to identify the best bow for your child. So continue reading for my beginners compound bow review.

I’m not going to rank these because they’re all really good and each has their own benefits. However, it is important to remember that each person a little different.  But, throwing all that aside, I’m going to look for the durability, quality of the bow, and quality of the accessories to come up with what I think are the best beginners compound bow packages. So that’s a the background of what I’m I have tried to achieve with this review.

Before you purchase any bow I’d recommend that you find out your child’s draw length and making sure that there is a little room to grow.  The draw length is all relative to the length of your child’s arms. It is then a simple as dividing the arm span by 2.5, for example an arm span of 50″ = a draw length of 20″ (50/2.5=20).

The next component a person must think about is the draw weight, how much force needs to be applied to be able to draw the arrow back before shooting. It is important not to over bow, that is the draw weight is too heavy for the archer. Below is my guide for beginners using compound bows.

Youth (Age 8 to 12)                       10 – 18 pounds

Teens (Age 12 to 14)                      14 – 24 pounds

Older Teens (15 to 18)                  20 – 30 pounds

Young women and male teens    25 – 40 pounds

These weights are dependent on the person size and strength and are there an approximate guide only.

With each of the bows I have included a link to the product reviews on Amazon so you can go and read the reviews from other parents and can check it out for yourself .

The Bows

Diamond Atomic Bow

  Diamond Atomic Package Youth Model RH Blue

This is a great bow for beginners, it is particularly suitable for younger children who have a short draw length and who need a lighter draw weight.  As a beginners set this bow comes with 3 carbon arrows, a 3 arrow quiver and a 3 pin bow sight. The main specifications of this bow are as follows:

Weight             2.5lbs

Draw weight   6 – 29lbs

Draw length    12″ – 24″

Additional points of interest

Easily adjusted without a bow press

Comes in right and left hand options

Changing draw length changes weight

The pros

This is a great bow ideal for the younger and smaller crowd.  It is well-balanced, the bow is sturdy and of good quality. Weight adjustment is easy to accomplish.The bow is mostly setup when it arrives and only needs some quick adjustments to get you going. Before use ensure that everything is attached correctly and you have set the draw length and weight correctly. All in all it is about 15 minutes and you are ready to go.

The cons

This is a high quality bow  and is reasonably expensive, however it is a good bow.  The biggest drawback I found was the bow sight, it is not as durable as the rest of the bow. The maximum draw length is 24″ which will probably be the limiting factor in how long your child can use the bow.

Diamond Atomic Package Youth Model RH Blue It’s priced around $200 on Amazon.

Conclusion

I’d easily recommend this to anyone who is looking for quality in a bow. If your child likes archery, then this bow is a great choice.  If it’s a passing fad, you might want to try one of the cheaper ones I have listed here.

  Barnett Banshee

  Barnett Banshee Junior Archery Set

This is a great beginner bow for young kids and will get them started having fun right away.  All you need to do is put things together and off you go. This is a fun little bow that is well made and good for young children. This bow set comes with 2 arrows, finger rollers and an adjustable pin sight. It also has the added advantage in being both right or left handed all you have to do is take the handle and flip it upside down, particularly useful if you have left and right handed children.

Weight              3.0lbs

Draw weight    25lbs 

Draw length     24″ – 26″

  So getting down to business.  You want to get a good little bow for your child.  At around $40, this represents real value for the money. You end up with a small compound that is very durable and probably the best choice for someone looking to get started.  As a compound, it helps make the bow easier to pull back and you have an adjustable draw length so it works well for different size children. Here’s the link so you can check it out on Amazon – Barnett Outdoors Lil Banshee Jr. Compound Archery Set.

I believe that children aged 9-12 should be able to use this bow, but that depends on the child, the main concern is the 25lb draw weight. For the price, you really can’t get a better bow for starting your kid in archery and it’s better than spending a couple hundred bucks before finding out if they really like archery and want to keep doing it.

Genesis Original Bow Kit

The Genesis bow is one of the most popular bows for young archers.  The Genesis Original bow is the only bow approved for use in the National Archery in Schools Program (NASP). So if your child is keen to do archery at school this is the bow to start with. This bow bridges the gap from child’s toys to a real bow.  I shot one of these when I was young and it was just as easy back then as it is now.

I always recommend getting a kit when you’re getting your first real bow.  It comes with everything needed to start shooting right out of the box.  That’s why it makes an excellent gift.

This bow is a solid piece of equipment and is machined from aluminum resulting in lightweight, providing balance whilst maintaining durability. The riser is drilled and tapped ready to attach your accessories. The kit includes belt quiver, armguard, and 5 aluminum arrows. It also comes in right and left hand models.

  Weight               2.95lbs

Draw length     up to 30″

Draw weight    10 to 20lbs

Adjusting your Genesis bow is simple and only takes a few turns of a 3/16″ Allen Wrench to adjust the draw weight. As this bow features 0% let-off, this results in the ability to adjust the draw length as well which is fantastic as your child grows so will their draw length. The bow also comes in a range of colors.

This bow is available on Amazon for around $200, Genesis Bow Kit

Crosman Elkhorn Jr. Compound Bow Kit

  If you’re looking for a real compound bow for a young archer, then this might just be the answer you are looking for.  The Crosman Elkhorn Jr. Compound Bow is an ideal bow  for a young archer. It features a low draw weight, but also comes with all the accessories needed to be able to get started. All you’ll really need is something to shoot at.

  Weight              3.3 lbs

Draw length     up to 26″

Draw weight    17-21 pounds

  This bow is for children who don’t want a toy anymore and who feel they are ready for a full-fledged compound bow.  It is a perfect bow for that category.  With a light draw weight, it works well for most kids 9-13 depending on the child.

Note: Some assembly IS required with this bow kit.

The bow represents good value and is rugged enough for the normal abuse a child’s bow may receive.  The cable string with the bow is made for no maintenance which adds to its reliability.

The accessory package works well for the new archer who doesn’t already have the equipment, however you will probably want to get some extra arrows as it only comes with two arrows.

This bow is available on Amazon and priced between $30 -$60 ($30 on special). My advice is to spend some extra dollars on arrows when you get it.

Overall this bow is really good value for the money.

  Bear Archery Brave

This bow is again a good quality bow from a well known bow maker – Bear Archery. It is of good solid construction and will stand up well to the normal child’s use. Bear Archery say this bow is suited to ages 8 and above and features a peak draw weight of 15 to 25lbs with 65% let-off.

Weight             2.0 lbs

Draw length   13.5″ – 19″

Draw weight  15 – 25 lbs

It comes with all the accessories required to be able to get started straight away. The following items are included:

Finger tab

Whisker biscuit

Single pin sight

2 safety glass arrows

The drawback of this bow is the draw length is limited to 19″ and therefore your child will out grow this bow faster than the others featured that have a longer maximum draw length. This bow is only available in a right hand model.

Bear Archery-Brave can be purchased from Amazon and retails for around $60-$95

This is a good bow, however, I recommend that you get some extra arrows when purchasing this bow as it only comes with 2 arrows in the pack.

Conclusion

The five bows I have featured are all suitable for your child’s archery needs, so the choice is yours. If you use the links through to Amazon you will be able to read the comments from people who have purchased these bows already and that may assist your final decision. Before purchasing one of the more expensive bows I would want to be sure that it is going to be used for a period of time and is not just a passing fancy that children have from time to time. If you intend for your child to participate in the NASP program then you really do need the Genesis Bow Kit.

I wish you well with your decision and may your child enjoy their new bow.

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Beginners Guide To Bow Hunting

A Beginners’ Guide to Bow Hunting

Bow hunting and archery are some of the greatest passions you can ever have in life. In fact, bow hunting is one of the fastest growing sections of the hunting industry. The challenge of successful bow hunts is unparalleled in the world of sports, and the reward that comes with a successful hunt is one that you’ll live to cherish forever. Bow hunting presents far more challenges than hunting with a gun, however, this means that it is so much more rewarding.

One of the advantages of bow hunting is that you get an earlier start to the season, that gets you out in the woods earlier . These are usually some of the prettiest times in one’s life, given that the weather is reasonably warm and the leaves are turning during bow hunting seasons.

Several states have opened their bow hunting seasons to crossbows, although there are usually some age restrictions. As a beginner, you may be tempted into following the easy route of hunting using a crossbow instead of learning to shoot a traditional or compound bow, given that the use of crossbows require little skill. As always you need to abide by the relevant by-laws covering bow hunting.

Bows for hunting

Using a bow as your weapon of choice when hunting, provides for much more satisfaction and enjoyment when successful in bagging your prize. This is because the skill level of the hunter needs to be so much greater than when using a gun. This is mainly because of the range of the weapons used and their accuracy over the normal distances that hunting occurs. Learning to shoot with a traditional or compound bows opens up numerous hunting possibilities, some of which are denied to those who make use of a crossbow only.

The compound bow, for instance, allows you to shoot accurately enough to hunt within a matter of some few weeks. However, the more practice you have and the more proficient with the bow you are will greatly improve your accuracy when taking that all important ‘kill shot’. The best part about modern bows is that you don’t have to train and practice for months on end in order to become sufficiently proficient in hunting with a bow, again some practice in the off season remains important to maintain your skills. This is where 3D shoots or even practice down at the range becomes very handy. As with all new skills, practice is always the key to top notch performance. And even though you may find that you are shooting quite well most of the time at the very beginning, you’ll have to make it a habit to shoot consistently well and to shoot well under pressure is all important. This provides the consistency that is necessary to harvest game more regularly and humanely.

Before making the commitment to learning bow hunting, it would be best to know what you are actually getting into. Here are some bow hunting basics you ought to know as you pursue to acquire and sharpen your skills.

  Wild turkey toms: photo by Vicki DeLoach

Bow Hunting Basics

There are three main types of skills you’ll have to develop as a bow hunter. They bear a high degree of importance and will help you in becoming a great bow hunter. They are as described below:

Before the shot– In order to acquire the opportunity to even take a shot, you’ll have to get close enough to your target and remain undetected. You should ascertain that you’re in a position where you can get a clean, unobstructed shot. A high level of accuracy, in terms of range estimation, is required. You should make sure to train to consistently and accurately judge the range. You can opt to make use of a laser rangefinder to help you in getting accurate shots. To read more about laser rangefinders click here.

Making the shot– Developing a good technique of shooting is the key to success, regardless of the range distance. Click here for techniques and tips on how to improve your accuracy. Regular and quality practice will certainly enable you to develop an appropriate technique. One single shot executed with solid technique is worth more than a hundred bad shots. So when practicing it is important that you view each shot as if you were actually hunting. Also it is good to practice beyond your own maximum range and focus on using the correct technique at all times. Longer shots will make shorter shots seem much easier.

After the shot– This welcomes you to another new aspect known as blood trailing. Making the shot accurately does not end the experience of bow hunting. Blood trailing involves observing the blood on the arrow to enable you determine the part of anatomy you’ve hit. Different colors will mean different organs. Getting knowledge on blood trailing helps you hone your hunting skills as you broaden your hunting opportunities.

Selecting a Bow

Majority of bow hunters make use of compound bows since they offer an extensive list of benefits, making them superior to other designs. They utilize a series of pulleys to create what is known as ‘let-off’. As you draw the string way back, the weight will let off, allowing you to hold the bow a lot longer at full draw, most compound bows have a let-off of around 70%.

Bow Hunting by Kansas Tourism

The other types of bows, namely the longbows and re-curve bows, offer faster target acquisition and snap shooting. However, they don’t have let-off and may be less accurate at longer distances, requiring you to practice even more in order to master.

The most appropriate bow for you would be one that fits, having the right draw weight and draw length. If using a release aid, ensure to have it handy when testing the draw length. You should avoid getting too hung up on the many brands available and instead choose according to your preferences.

To read more on choosing your bow click here. You can also check out our reviews of various bows and equipment that we have carried out.

Tips for New Bow Hunters

Now that you’re rigged and ready, it’s important to get off with your shooting form on the right foot. Below are some tips for new bow hunters that will prove handy as you seek to sharpen your hunting skills.

Relax– you should learn to relax all muscles that are not required in holding the string back fully to ensure that your sight stands the best chance of settling on your target and isn’t jumping around.

Focus on your follow-through – Keep the bow intact in the aiming position till the arrow hits the target. You may not be able to do it entirely, but the mere effort of trying helps keep you on your target better, maintaining a more consistent follow-through.

Finding a good trail– You should keep it simple when hunting. You can find a good trail between a bedding and feeding area which is in a location you know you can get to and from without being detected.

Know your effective kill range (EKR) – This is the magical distance that you are sure to hit your target even under extreme pressure. This distance varies from individual to individual. It is thus up to you to find out what your EKR is. Once you limit yourself to this distance, you’ll be ultimately confident to always succeed.

How to Improve Your Bow Hunting Success

As a bow hunter, you’ll always feel challenged to bring your A-game. Lots of things will tend to cross your mind as you anchor and aim an arrow. Most of such things will be right. Some may be perfect. This one split-second culminates months of preparation, practice and planning. Here are some things you should take into consideration. With them, you’ll know be able to know how to improve your bow hunting success.

Accuracy is paramount– This is the aspect that matters most. Not the given bow’s accuracy, but your accuracy with a certain bow. The first trick to this is finding a bow that you can shoot accurately with, and then shooting it until you’re perfect. You should not even think of giving up accuracy for speed.

Speed– Once you’re able to shoot accurately, you’ll find that a faster bow bears several major benefits. One of them is that you’ll now enormously simplify things in the field. It also grants you the ability to shoot a heavy arrow sporting a heavy head without giving up a lot in trajectory. This guarantees more momentum and better penetration.

Accessories– It is much easier to accessorize for accuracy if need be. The right accessories will improve your shooting regardless of your skill level. The choice of accessories you get to pick depends solely on your preferences.

Proper stand placement– Every bow hunter ought to be aware of the basics involved in choosing a stand site. Placing your stand directly on trails or over scrapes is not always advisable. As you seek to select a proper stand site, make sure to check for secondary, paralleling trails.

Training to make better shots– Bow hunting requires proper planning and hard work in order to execute accurately. However, all these may be futile if your body can’t handle the ultimate test of accurately shooting your bow. You should tune your body to properly shoot a bow.

Final Note

Tradition is the biggest part of this sport. Every time you are in the field with a bow, you are taking time, money, effort and the mystique years of archery evolution has given us. On the field, you get to represent what many would consider to be the purest form of hunting. It is imperative that you take the above points into consideration, especially if you’re hoping for success in bow hunting.

I hope you have found some useful information from this beginners guide to bow hunting.

Happy hunting

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5 Optical Bow Hunting Accessories

Five Optic Accessories Every Hunter Must Have.

Optical accessories are an important addition for any hunter who wants to be successful in the field. Whether you hunt for survival, tradition, sport, or a combination of these; one thing for certain is that you do not hunt to fail! These five must-have optics could determine whether your next hunting adventure is a success.

Binoculars

An essential piece of equipment for any hunter to have is a good pair of binoculars. Game animals blend into their surroundings very well, they are designed to do so. Human eyes have a hard time picking up the slight color differences, particularly in low light conditions encountered during the prime hunting times around dawn and dusk. In fact it is normally movement that we first detect when trying to locate game. There have been many times when I have walked right up to an animal without knowing it was there. If I had seen them sooner, I could have prepared for a shot.

Binoculars give you a much better chance to see animals tucked away in the bushes. Binoculars can also assist your vision in low light conditions that you often encounter when hunting. When it comes to binoculars you need to look for a few things, it is essential that they are waterproof and fog-proof. Without these features you may find yourself in a position where you cannot see through them.

Choose a pair of binoculars with a magnification that fits the areas you hunt in. Normally for bow hunting 10X magnification should be sufficient for most occasions. Another factor to consider is the game you are after and the range or terrain you are hunting in.

Any optical accessory you use in the field must have quality lenses and it is definitely worthwhile to spend that little extra to get the top quality equipment. I recommend sticking with brands known for quality. I prefer either Bushnell or Leupold. The thing I like about these brands is that they focus on optics for hunting. They don’t make anything else.

Finally, you need your binoculars to be easy to use. I prefer binoculars that can be operated with one hand. Consider all of these factors when choosing your next pair of binoculars.

Following is a selection of binoculars that I would recommend.

  Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 10x 42mm – You need to be able to see with great clarity and these rugged binoculars are just the answer.  They’re  tough, small enough to take with you, and offer great crystal clear vision to help you get an up close look from a distance.  You can find them for $200 and up

    Leupold Mojave Binoculars, 10x42mm, Mossy Oak These binoculars represent the top of the range style of equipment, being camouflaged, providing a great optical lens and 10x magnification. This is for the more serious hunter priced around $400

  Trail Cameras

Have you ever hunted an area wondering if there are any animals around? You’ve noticed tracks and aren’t quite sure what animal they are from? Trail cameras are the answer!

I want my hunting trips to be as successful as possible therefore I will check out an area first before going hunting. The best way to do this is by use of trail cameras. They allow you to see what game is around when and where they are moving, this significantly increases the chances of a successful shoot. Giving you the best opportunity to harvest your next trophy. One of the best advantages you gain by the use of trail cameras, is that you are able to scout out your next hunting trip while still at work and then when going on your hunting trip you are already armed with the essential knowledge you need to bag your prize.

Many hunters use multiple trail cameras. Many use two for one area and have trail cameras in multiple areas. This way they can find the area with the best animals. They get a better idea of where the animals are traveling to and from. They can also figure out where the “big boys” are hanging. When choosing your trail cameras it is important to buy ones with night vision. If it uses flash, it must be infared flash to avoid scaring the game away. I prefer trail cameras that take videos, this will give you the most information about their habits.

When adding trail cameras to your accessories portfolio make sure to choose those with enough memory. You don’t want one that fills up quickly. Choose trail cameras with extended battery life. That way you can set it and forget it. The less disturbance in the area the better. I also recommend using trail cameras with great resolution. I would say 5 MP or better, HD is always preferred. With trail cameras I prefer using Bushnell however the I have included the Browning trail camera as well. I know these brands. They have never failed me!

Following is a selection of trail cameras that I would recommend.

    Bushnell 8MP Trail Camera with Night Vision This camera features 8MP camera, HD video with programmable recording length. Displays, date, time and automatically tags GPS coordinates. Batteries last up to one year.

    Browning 10MP Game Camera – This Browning trail camera has an amazing 10MP camera with 100ft infrared flash range and HD video. It currently rates 4.5 stars on Amazon and is currently the smallest high performance trail camera available.

  Laser Rangefinders

I love to hunt with a bow. Other than your bow and arrows, a laser rangefinder is probably the most important piece of equipment you can have. Distance affects accuracy in archery tremendously particularly over longer shots in terrain where you are unable to get closer to your target. Laser rangefinders give you the ability to know exactly what the distance to your prey is. Differing terrain can affect your judgement of distance, 30 yards in the brush looks a lot different than 30 yards in the open, particularly in lower light situations.

Before I started using a rangefinder I found I was misjudging the distance and creating inaccuracy in  lot of my shots. This was particularly apparent when I first started bow hunting, now I am able to judge the distance much more accurately, however the rangefinder is always correct. When shooting my arrows would be either high or low because I had misjudged the distance, and this was making the difference between a clean kill or just injuring the animal.

I recommend laser rangefinders that are able to make adjustments for elevation, as uneven terrain can make the judgement of distance more difficult. Whether shooting up-hill or down-hill, these will still give you accurate shot readings. This is especially important for bow hunters. A 15 degree difference in elevation could cause you to completely miss a deer, even if your distance was accurate. Choose a rangefinder that does these calculations for you. I also recommend laser rangefinders that are easy to use, one handed operation is preferred. Stick with brands that are known for quality. Again, I prefer either Bushnell or Leupold. In my experience these brands are phenomenal.

  Bushnell 4x20mm Bowhunting Laser Rangefinder This rangefinder includes Bushnell’s Clear Shot technology to enable you to determine if you are able to make the shot or not (is there a branch in the way of the flight of the arrow). It also has a bow mode that provides true horizontal distance to the target,and features 4x magnification. This is truly a good rangefinder for the price under $200, however it is only rain proof and not waterproof. The Bushnell G-Force Rangefinder is waterproof but costs approximately $400.

    Leupold RX-FullDraw Archery Rangefinder This rangefinder features a bow mode out to 175 yards (not sure if I am that good a shot) and has 5x magnification. It also features a trophy scale that allows you to determine the size of the antlers if you are trophy hunting.

    Sights

I am frequently asked “What are the best bow sights for hunting?” In answering this, there are a number of factors to consider, I believe good sights are a necessary accessory for every bow hunter and again there is no substitute for quality. There is currently a vast array of sights available for the archer, and across the range of bows whether compound or recurve bows. A lot of the input into this decision of what sight is best for you depends on where and how you hunt, however I would go for a more rugged construction rather than a cheaper plastic version that may not stand up the knocks it will get whilst hunting.

I normally recommend a 5 pin sight for the compound bow hunter, this allows you to aim accurately over varying distances and the ability to quickly adjust your shooting range. However, there are now fully adjustable single pin sights as well the allow you to shoot over varying distances. Some hunters love these and some hate having to adjust their sight every time they go to take a shot and the extra time it takes. Additionally I look for sights that have some sort of light source for low light situations.

  Field Logic IQ 5 Pin Sight

Field Logic IQ 5 Pin Sight This comes in RH and LH model has tight stack fibre optic pins and is adjustable in a 2nd axis. It also comes with a money back guarantee to shoot tighter groups or your money back.

    HHA Optimizer Lite Sight – OL-3019 RH This is regarded as one of the best single pin sights in the bowhunting world. This just needs sighting over 20 and 60 yard ranges and then you are ready to shoot 20 to 80 yards in 5 yard increments. Excellent value under $100.

    Cameras

Of all the accessories that I recommend, this is the least critical but the most fun. Whether you have been hunting, camping, fishing, or hiking; I bet there have been times when you wished you had footage from your expedition. Maybe you missed taking a picture of an animal? Maybe you missed recording your kids doing something funny? Or did you wish you had recorded your hunt because it was so incredible? I know I have been there before.

Granted, cameras will not add to your success when hunting. They may even distract you a bit. But I tell you what. They can make your trips a whole lot of fun! Any time I take a trip outdoors I take my compact camera. I have recorded some pretty cool things and even funnier things when hunting. The thing is, a camera will not help you bag a trophy, but it will help you with bragging rights with your mates in the bar or to remember that trophy vividly for the rest of your life. It will also allow you to share that experience with the family on your return from your trip. And isn’t that what the outdoors is all about? Sharing it with the ones you love? I don’t regret putting a camera into my accessory arsenal. You will not regret it either.

Now available are a range of mounts for smartphones, Go Pros and the like but there are also specialized cameras the can mount directly to your bow as well.

  S4Gear JackKnife Smartphone Bow Mount

ZX5 Bow Camera Mount For GoPro

  Tactacam 2.0 Flat Black Camera with Camo Stabilzer

              Prepare Now

No matter what time of the year it is, it is never too early to start preparing for next season. The earlier you buy your new accessories the better, this will allow you to become comfortable using them. The last thing you want is to have that trophy of a lifetime in front of you and you are stuck fumbling around with equipment that you are not familiar with. Use your optics often! Make sure that they are still working properly.

You can use your trail cameras year-round to scout the animals you intend to hunt. The more you learn about your quarry the better equipped you will be on your next hunting trip

Happy hunting!

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How To Improve Your Accuracy

I hate missing, and I sure hate missing by a long shot.  It’s really not that cool and it makes me feel dumb.  Getting better at your accuracy and consistently being able to hit your target is a HUGE deal and you shouldn’t ignore it.  Let me point out that I lost a competition by completely missing the target at 25 yards.  You think I felt foolish, you bet I did.

Start from the ground up

Everything starts with your feet.  They are the table on which everything else is built.  Many people like to stand like a golfer with both feet in line making a point towards your target.  It can work pretty well for most, but you’d be amazed at how much better your form can get with just a couple minor adjustments.

First, while you’re out shooting, take your front foot and move it one inch to the side.  Take a few shots and then move it another inch over.  After you’ve done this a few times, now move your front foot forwards by an inch.  You’ll feel a difference in which muscles are tightened and how it feels with the alignment of your bones.  You should also try this with your back foot as well.  For me, I found that having my front foot forward about three inches gave me the best alignment and muscle contraction repeatedly.

Squeeze it

Tighten your abs and back when you are shooting.  I found that when I consistently tightened up my core as I was shooting that I had less shaking and more stability.  If you think of yourself as a table, the feet are the base and your torso is the trunk so you need to make sure that it stays the same for each shot.  All that being said, you still need to try shooting with a relaxed torso and a tightened one to see which works for your body the best.

Let your bones do the work

Muscles wear out a lot faster than bones.  If you hold the bow straight out to the side with your arm in line with your shoulders, you’ll be letting your bones take the brunt of the force of holding the bow.  This doesn’t seem like a big deal for a few shots, but when you’re shooting hundreds of shots it gets really tiring.

This also applies to pulling back the bow a bit.  Drawing back on the bow when you have bad posture or are too weak will make you use more muscles and experience more fatigue faster.  So don’t, even though it’s really easy.

Be efficient

The best thing to improve accuracy is to be as efficient as possible.  You want your muscles to last as long as they can with the least amount of fatigue.  Pay attention to using large muscles to do most of the work.  When you draw back on the bow, try to make your upper back muscles do all the work.  They are the biggest muscle group and will last the longest.  Using your biceps more will make your arm fatigue faster plus make your arm more shaky.

Uphill and downhill

Lots of times you aren’t shooting perfectly level.  The biggest trick to getting better at these types of shots is to go back to the table idea.  You want to make your base as solid as possible.  Get a good footing and bend at the waist.  You don’t want to change anything above your waist if possible.  If you move your arms instead, you’ve completely changed your entire form and that causes more problems and increased fatigue.

It might feel silly at first, but it will make you more consistent and that means better accuracy.

Workout

Really? Yes, you need to work out your stabilizer muscles.  Think about it, most people shake when their muscles are getting over used or are pretty fatigued.  So work on the muscles that will get fatigued.  The big one for me is my deltoids muscle, a.k.a. the shoulder.  Just grab a 5-10 pound weight and hold it out like it’s your bow for about 5-10 minutes a day.  That’s not so bad, but it will really improve your accuracy.  You will have to see which muscles get tired the fastest or cause you the most issues after lots of shooting.  Now I’m not a doctor so make sure you check with one of those guys if you need to.

Form shooting

This is a neat little trick too.  The idea is to get 5-10 yards from a target and just shoot for the middle.  You’re not trying to aim at all.  The whole point is to feel your body is moving the exact same way.  Don’t even pay attention to aiming really.  You can also try shooting with your eyes closed, be extremely careful, to see if your arrow ends up in the same spot.  You’re just focusing on consistently taking the same actions with your body.

Pre-shot routine

Archery is a huge mental game.  Come up with a routine that is short, but that you do every single time that you take a shot.  It could be something simple like taking a deep breath or a little more complex like rubbing your hands and picking your nose.  It doesn’t really matter as long as it prepares your mind to do take the shot.  I actually learned this from some golfers saying the it really upped their game because it helps you to always get in the right frame of mind

I have an e-book that I recommend if you want help getting better at your game.  There is loads of great information in it and I’m willing to bet that even the most experienced person will learn something.  If you disagree, just tell me.

For more tips on archery education click here…

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Rainy Day Archery Story

It’s been rather rainy and cold over the last several days.  After being stuck inside so much, sometimes it’s just nice to get outside and do something and to stretch my legs.  It was one of these moments just a few days ago that I had a small revelation and joy that I wanted to share.

I was out walking around a lake that’s very close to my house and I was just going around and hiking.  I’m a fan of hiking and it’s an easy way to get out a bit and relax.  As I was going, I saw some tracks in the mud.  I’m always a bit curious when I see tracks because I want to know when they were made and what kind of animal it was.

There are lots of places where you can go to learn this information, but it’s pretty neat looking back that I could figure out what kind of animal it was and what direction it was going in.  Later on when I was hiking back out I found some more stuff that was neat.

I found a bedding area and then also an area that had been recently scavenged through with all sorts of grasses bent and moved out of their normal place.  I’m not an expert by any means, but I do know that this is one of those fun skills that you can do and keep entertained all year-long and you don’t think about getting better at it, but when it comes time to put that information to work that it’s really helpful.

Tracking and the Art of Seeing: How to Read Animal Tracks and Sign

The above link is to a book on tracking.  I briefly read through bits here and there over the course of a year.  I never really went in-depth on studying it really good except to tell the difference between hogs and deer.  It’s kind of neat what you pick up though.  To look around for damaged limbs, scat, or scrapings that can help you figure out what happened is a neat skill to pick up.

It sure makes me feel like I’m a better outdoorsman.  I really don’t think I’d ever need to know how to survive in the wild to live there, but then again, no one ever plans on being forced to.  Without being forced to study it, I liked it and when I found something that I didn’t know, I could just come back and take a quick look to see what I thought it was.

So that’s my rainy day archery story.  Sorry if it wasn’t super exciting, but I really enjoyed being out side walking around and felt that just the smallest bit of extra knowledge made it more enjoyable.

Anyways, just a thought on how doing small things throughout the year can help you learn more and be a better outdoorsman with just a few minutes a month.

  photo credit

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